Articles by Rebecca Stone

InterContinental Hotels' work with IHG Concerto, an all-in-one hotel tech solution for hotel owners, is just one example of how the chain is strengthening its business while improving relations with hotel owners. Our latest research report shows just how IHG is looking to be a smarter, better hotel company that is well-positioned for the future.

The cacay nut is a perfect example of how tourists can directly benefit entire countries simply by buying products for their own wellness in cities like Bogotá that help support poorer regions throughout Colombia. Maybe someday being a tourist will become less about being a foreigner and more about being a better global citizen.

Arguably, no one else in the hospitality industry has made wellness as much of a priority and focus as Hyatt has. Our latest research suggests there's a lot of opportunity for the company to tap into this quickly growing segment to drive increased customer loyalty.

As earnings season for 2018 results for the hotel companies begins, Skift Research is out with a deep dive report on Hyatt assessing some of the company's key developments. With the company's recent acquisitions in the management space, dispositions of owned real estate, and increased focus on wellness offerings, we think Hyatt is smartly positioning itself for an uncertain future.

Medellin has gone through an incredible transformation over the past 30 years, but large issues still remain prevalent. As the city figures out the right story it wants to tell, its "fake it ‘til you make it" strategy somehow works — speaking to the resilience of many developing economies that are navigating histories of crime, corruption, and violence and still figuring out how to position themselves as destinations.

Peru has done a lot in terms of diversifying its tourism industry, but a stronger emphasis on a unified vision for tourism is still needed. If governments don’t start prioritizing tourism — which has far-reaching impacts on other industries, the environment, and the lives of locals — we’re going to lose critical parts of history that help explain who we are and how we got here.

Our latest Skift Research report provides a look-back on 2018 and details our 2019 economic expectations for the U.S. and globally. All in all, we expect a solid year of economic growth in 2019 which should translate well for the travel industry.

The ongoing investigation into the painting of the Batu Caves steps points to a greater need to appropriately preserve heritage sites. Protecting a country’s history and heritage for future generations should come first; increasing the number of Instagram "likes" and "tags" a heritage site gets should come second.

From co-working spaces to restaurant reservations, AccorHotels has demonstrated its willingness to make acquisitions, investments, or strategic partnerships outside of hospitality. It is all in an effort to become an all-in-one experience platform serving consumers no matter what their needs are, and investors seem to like it.

With the sale of a majority stake in the company's owned and leased hotel business, AccorHotels is a more stable, nimble company, with the ability to pursue additional acquisitions and other strategic initiatives. In our latest research report, we break down what going asset-light means for the company and tackle ways of measuring the success of its M&A strategy.